HOLYOKE - A high-tech computer research center that Mayor Michael J. Sullivan said will "produce thousands of jobs" in the city will bring the talent of world-class companies like EMC and Cisco Systems and renowned universities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and perhaps Harvard University to this former mill town.

"Innovation is our calling card in Massachusetts and this partnership with MIT, the University of Massachusetts, EMC and Cisco Systems will usher in the next generation of high performance computing and set us apart from our competitors," Gov. Deval L. Patrick said Tuesday. "The potential for breakthrough technologies and research is enormous and both the center and collaboration will undoubtedly serve to lift up the City of Holyoke and regional economies throughout Western Massachusetts."

University of Massachusetts at Amherst computer science professor James F. Kurose, who also serves as the dean of the college of natural sciences and mathematics, also praised the project, which he said will conduct research in biofuels, life sciences, clean energy and other research which relies heavily on computation.

"I think it's just a wonderful opportunity for the state and industries to collaborate," Kurose said Tuesday.

State Housing and Economic Development Secretary Gregory P. Bialecki described the joint effort Tuesday as "a place where cutting-edge research is done." And while Bialecki agreed with Sullivan that this "is a very significant announcement for Holyoke," Bialecki cautioned that, "there's not going to be a 1,000 or 2,000 jobs a year from now." However, Bialecki added, "It is our hope this facility will be an anchor for a high-tech district in Holyoke."

And because of the world-class nature of the companies and universities involved, Bialecki said he believes the facility will attract "businesses that will want to locate here just to be near them."

The exact location for the facility has not been chosen, Sullivan said. But, Sullivan said, "all sites being explored are downtown" and the project will serve as the "centerpiece for economic development."

"This is something we've been working hard on for two years," Sullivan said Tuesday. "This is the first step in a huge partnership."

"It's going to be huge," Sullivan added. "It's the biggest news for Holyoke for the last 50 years."

Robert P. Connolly, a spokesman for University of Massachusetts President Jack M. Wilson described the project as "a major initiative in economic development in Holyoke."

Harvard University is also considering being involved in the project, but the Cambridge-based university has not made a final decision. Harvard spokesman B. D. Colen simply stated Tuesday that, "Harvard has been involved in some discussion."

Along with a research center, the facility will be used to house large amounts of computer data storage equipment, Kurose said. More details will be decided about the project within the next 120 days.

The project came about mainly due to talks between Wilson and MIT President Susan Hockfield, Connolly said. Holyoke was quickly agreed upon as an ideal location for such a facility due to its low electric utility costs and the large number of highly educated people produced by the area's colleges, according to Connolly, Goode and Sullivan.